A 24-year-old Lafayette man has been arrested and charged in connection to a body found on La. 359 near Washington on April 2, according to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
The man charged is identified as Nicholas Aymond. He is charged with second-degree murder, authorized use of a movable, possession of firearm by a felon, illegal possession of firearm, possesion of Schedule I, II and II drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aymond’s bail was set at $294,000.
The victim was identified as Stanley L. Aultman III, 64, of Lafayette.
Aultman family members said he left with Aymond to go to the store, but did not return.
Aultman’s 2010 black Cadillac SRX was found by Fenton Police in a rural area.
Fenton police also located Nicholas Aymond and 24-year-old white female Emily Higdon in the rural area where the vehicle was located.
After finding the Aultman’s body, detectives determined his injuries were the result of foul play.
Blood stains and a bullet hole in the roof were found in Altman’s vehicle, which was towed to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office for investigation.
“Fenton police also located Nicholas Aymond and 24-year-old white female Emily Higdon in the rural area where the vehicle was located. Nicholas was in possession of a black and grey backpack,” the news release stated.
Aymond and Higdon were taken to the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office until detectives with St. Landry could arrive.
An arrest warrant was obtained on Aymond for unauthorized use of a movable.
“igdon provided a statement saying that Aymond picked her up at her home in Washington and took out a pistol then started shooting while he was driving, even shooting out the rear window. Higdon also stated that Aymond was driving erratic and lost control in Fenton where they hid in the grass until a Fenton officer located them,” the news release stated.
“Aymond provided a statement that he and Aultman were riding in the vehicle when Aultman took out a pistol and they began tussling over it. Aymond stated during the tussle, the pistol abruptly discharged. Aymond would not continue his statement and ended his statement,” Guidoz stated.
The autopsy results showed that Aultman sustained multiple gunshots to his body and head and had injuries indicative of tire marks or drag marks to his shoulder. The findings of the autopsy conflicted with the statement Aymond gave to the detectives.
Detectives located a witness at the scene who stated that they observed Aultman in the roadway and a subject standing outside the vehicle then quickly entered the vehicle and drive over Aultman. A search warrant was obtained for the backpack Aymond was carrying when he was located in Fenton. Located was a Glock 22 (.40-caliber) inside a hidden compartment with extra magazines and a wide verity of assorted drugs and paraphernalia.
